M.G., A JUVENILE, PETITIONER,
v.
VERSHAWN BERRY, SUPERINTENDENT MIAMI-DADE REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDENTS
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M.G., a juvenile detained for grand theft auto, petitioned for habeas corpus release from secure detention. The court granted the petition, finding that while grand theft auto qualified as a detainable charge under Florida law, the trial court improperly added aggravating points for a pending adult case, resulting in improper double-scoring that violated statutory detention criteria.
M.G. qualifies for home detention, not secure detention. Although grand theft auto qualifies as a detainable charge under section 985.255, and M.G. met the statutory criteria for detention, the trial court improperly added aggravating points for the pending adult conspiracy case because that case was already incorporated into the DRAI score, constituting improper double-scoring.
[1] A juvenile charged with grand theft auto may qualify for detention if they have a record of law violations prior to court hearings.
[2] A juvenile charged with grand theft auto may qualify for detention if they are awaiting final disposition of a case.
Previewing 2 of 5 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The child is charged with any second degree or third degree felony involving a violation of chapter 893 or any third degree felony that is not also a crime of violence, and the child... Has a record of law violations prior to court hearings”
Sets forth the statutory criteria under section 985.255(1)(g)(2) that M.G. satisfied, making him eligible for detention based on his law violation prior to the court hearing on the adult case
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceM.G. was arrested for grand theft auto while on custody release for charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery in adult court. The trial court orde…
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PER CURIAM.
M.G., a juvenile, petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus to release him from secure detention at the Miami-Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center, where he is being held on a charge of grand theft auto. We grant the petition.
M.G. argues that the trial court’s order does not satisfy the statutory criteria for keeping him in secure detention. He contends that the pending ease of grand theft auto should not have qualified as a detaina-ble charge in the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (DRAI). M.G. further contends that the court improperly found the aggravating circumstance, thereby adding three points to the DRAI score, because of the arrest on grand theft auto while out in custody on an adult case. M.G. argues that the finding of aggravating circumstances amounts to double scoring.
M.G. qualifies for home detention. Section 985.255(l)(g), Florida Statutes, provides, in pertinent part:
The child is charged with any second degree or third degree felony involving a violation of chapter 893 or any third degree felony that is not also a crime of violence, and the child:
1. Has a record of failure to appear at court hearings after being properly notified in accordance with the Rules of Juvenile Procedure;
2. Has a record of law violations prior to court hearings;
3. Has already been detained or has been released and is awaiting final disposition of the case;
4. Has a record of violent conduct resulting in physical injury to others; or
5. Is found to have been in possession of a firearm.
The Department of Juvenile Justice properly determined that M.G.’s arrest for grand theft auto qualifies him for detention under section 985.255. M.G. violated the law prior to his court hearing on the adult court charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. This constitutes a record of law violation. See P.M. v. Carter, 658 So. 2d 188 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995). Furthermore, although not marked on the DRAI, M.G. also meets the criteria of subsection (3) — “Has already been detained or has been released and is awaiting final disposition of the case.” Here, M.G. committed the grand theft auto while he was on custody release for the charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
However, the State agrees with M.G.’s contention regarding the aggravating factor based on the facts of the currently pending conspiracy to commit armed robbery in the adult felony division. The State concedes that it is improper to consider that as an aggravating factor, since it already was incorporated into the DRAI with two points for the other current offenses and pending charges.
Accordingly, there was no basis for ordering secure detention in this case. As such, we order that M.G. be immediately released from secure detention and placed in the custody of his parent or guardian or, if they are unable to receive him, to a person authorized by the parent, and placed on home detention, as required by his DRAI score.
This opinion shall take effect immediately notwithstanding the filing of any motion for rehearing or other post-decision motion.
Petition granted.
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Citator
Cited By
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M.W. v. Dep't OF Juv. Just., 15 So. 3d 782 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009)
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J.L.B. v. Kelly, 93 So. 3d 1137 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012)…82, 784 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009) (holding that assessing three aggravating points based on use of a firearm was impermissible because the juvenile had already been assessed eight points for the offense of possession of a firearm); see also M.G. v. Berry, 998 So. 2d 634, 635-36 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008) (holding that the circuit court improperly added points as an aggravating factor based on the facts of a charge for conspiracy to commit an armed robbery pending in the adult felony division because that circumstance was i…
Authorities Cited
- P.M. v. Carter, 658 So. 2d 188 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995)
- Rancourt v. Lamond Todd and Brenda Todd, 658 So. 2d 188 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995)